I must confess. I have a CHA Hangover….. which I also refer to as a “CHAng”-Over.
What are my symptoms, you ask? Perhaps you have the affliction as well? In talking to friends and reading blog posts from other exhibitors and attendees, I know I’m not the only one.
Physical symptoms of a CHA Hangover are known to include:
- Undeniable need to sleep 12 hours straight — at least one night if not 2!
- Extreme foot pain. Especially in the “ball” of my foot due to unwisely choosing to wear heels.
- Strange cravings for hearty, healthy food (after a couple of days of living on power bars).
Perhaps more noticeable, though, are the emotional and psychological symptoms associated with the CHAng-Over, which include:
- Product Confusion: As soon as you think you “know” the industry, another CHA comes around and shakes everything up….
- People Confusion: Who is working with who these days? Who isn’t talking to whom?
- Regret: Why didn’t I take more photos? I’m a scrapbooker for crying out loud!
- Excitement: I met a bloggy friend in real life and we realized that we have much in common! I can’t wait to hang out with her more at the next show! And now that we’ve met in person, we’ll be able to *connect* via email, facebook, text more easily.
- Determination: By golly, I WILL try harder to get together more & talk the talk with industry people who live nearby! When we live within a 45 minute drive of each other, we don’t need CHA to share gossip, share ideas and brainstorm! Sheesh…
- Fuzzy-headedness: Was it Suzy or Jane that I met at the XYZ booth? What did Bob ask me to email him? Ack, I should have written it down!
- Inspiration: I saw so many cool ideas & techniques that I can’t wait to try!
- Overwhelmed: I want to try those ideas, but when will I have time? I have approximately 8,000 follow-ups that I’ve committed to doing…
- Energized: Despite a CHA hangover, the “high” you feel from participating in the event lasts for days …
- Laundry Pileup: Yes, I’m still catching up. I wasn’t even gone that long! What’s up with that?
- Behind on blog posts: I was “on it” before CHA. PaperCrafter’s Corner was updated almost hourly as the sneak peeks were revealed. News from the show? Not so much.(Hey, cut me a break. I was working with a manufacturer almost the whole time I was there!)
- Yearning: There are some products out there that have been around a while that I didn’t think I needed ….. but now I need them oh so badly!!
- Resolved:I might be behind, but I’ll catch up ….and more! I have ideas for some great features to implement here at PCC that will make it even easier & more fun to interconnect with your paper crafting community!
- Extreme A-D-D:I *so* need to prioritize. Which fabulous idea(s) to pursue first?
What about you? Do you have a CHA Hangover? Even if you didn’t attend, you are susceptible to the affliction as well. It’s commonly known to be contagious via blogs, messageboards, facebook & twitter {and now Pinterest!}. If you have a CHAng-Over, what are your symptoms? Let’s commiserate 
OMG…..this is SO ME!!! It was my first CHA and I have slept almost for three days! I had to go back to the “40+ hours” a week job or I would be sleeping today too!!!!
Totally! My in-laws came for a visit over the weekend, which forced me to limit myself to “only” 10 hours/night. Hahaha. I think they thought something was wrong with me!
I’m right there with you, too! This was also my first CHA and I’m still overwhelmed and floating from the high. I took pictures but haven’t had time to upload them and now I can’t remember all the cool things I wanted to share with our store owner. So, I’m kind of grateful to Nancy and Scrapbook Update for reminding me of all the goodies I saw (hehe). But, Susan, you did an awesome job in the Sneak Peek department! Thanks for all that you do.
It is amazing how you crave SLEEEEEEP after CHA…It always takes me a couple of days to get back to a normal “clock” vs. the up till after midnight awake at the crack of dawn
and the laundry how in the world does one week translate into 3 weeks of laundry??? (for myself and the kids…geesh) My biggest problem is “sample” and magazine/catalog pile-up. Trying to find a place for the treasures I was given to use that is 1) not hidden so I forget about them and 2) not in the middle of the living room floor where I would really like to put everything so I can stare at them and pick them up when the game my hubby is watching gets boring 
I had an awesome time at CHA.. I was able to sleep afterwards no problem.. but I had problems sleeping before I went.. I was too excited. I am so glad we met.. had an awesome time hanging w/ you. We’ll have to do it again! What a great article!